Improvement in lock-hinges for blinds



H. LULL- Lock-Hinges for Blinds.

Nov.l48,3l5.

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Patented March 10. I874.

;; NI'IE STATES HARVEY LULL, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOCK-HINGES FOR BLINDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 148,315, dated March 10, 1874 application filed May 15, 1873.

New Jersey, have invented certain Improve ments in Self- Locking Hinges for Blinds, Shutters, &c., of which the following is a specification:

This invention belongs to that class of devices used for supporting window-blinds, and for holding them open firmly against the outer wall of the building; and the invention consists of two inclined surfaces arranged concentrically to the pivots or pintles, but parallel to each other, and in a horizontal plane, in such a manner that the weight of the blinds will coact with the hinges to press the same deeper into the angularshaped groove-lock, and to carry the blind back against the wall. The invention further consists in providing a flange or rib between the locking-surfaces, which acts in connection with a bracket or stud to prevent the accidental lifting of the blind from its hinge, as will be more fully hereinafter specified.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are an elevation and side view, respectively, of blinds supported by my hinge. Fig. 3 is a partial section and plan view of the hinge, full size. Fig. 4. is an elevation thereof. Fig. 5 is a top view of the hinge.

The two parts of the hinge are shown at A and B, the plate A having holes for screws, in order to fasten it to the building, and upon its outer face is cast a bracket, A, from which rises a vertical pivot or pintle, A upon which the portion B works. The portion B is provided with a bracket, B the outer end of which terminates in an oval-shaped knob or cylinder, B having an oval-shaped or. elongated opening, G, through it. Upon the outer surface of the knob B? are formed two inclined projecting surfaces, D D, which are arranged concentrically to the pintle A but parallel to each other and in a horizontal plane, the ob ject of which is to form a stop, so that, when the blind is open and the parts in the position shown in Fig. 5, one of said inclined surfaces will bear within a groove, E, formed in the plate A, and thereby act as a lever to prevent.

the blind from turning or closing, and the fulcrum of said lever is the pintle A, while at the same time the weight of the-blinds will coact with the hinge to press it deeper into lock, and to carry the blind back against the wall of the building. This result is evident, from the fact that when the blind is carried around from a closed to open position, the opening 0 will shift on the pintle A, and cause the blind to drop slightly from a vertical line, as in Fig. 1, where it will be ob served that the inner stile of the blind and the window-frame are slightly divergent. The sliding action of the part B on the pintle A pushes the locking-surface D back sufliciently far to engage with the groove E, and thus has a tendency to press the blind back against the wall, and to hold it there, while the blind itself acts to press the inclined surface D in contact with the groove E. All that is required to disengage the blind from its locked position is to press the edge of the blind edgewise, or slide the hinge to the other end of the hole 0 upon the pintle A which frees the lockingsurface D from contact with the groove E, and thus permits the closing of the blind by simply drawing it around on its pintle. Of course such an operation renders the ordinary hinge F necessary at the opposite end of the blind, as seen at Figs. 1 and 2. To prevent the accidental lifting of the blind from its hinge, I form a rib or flange, G, between the lockingsurfaces D D, which extends nearly around the cylinder B and projects beneath a bracket, H, on the plate A, and prevents the blind from being lifted from its hinge, except when partly opened or turned to bring a notch, h, in said flange G immediately beneath the bracket or stud H, when it may be lifted until the stud H strikes the locking-surface or flange, when the blind will again require to be turned farther around to free it from contact therewith; consequently, two special motions of the blind are required to bring it in proper position to be lifted from the hinge. Only one of the inclined surfaces D D is in actual use at the same time 5 but they are providedso as to permit of the hinge being reversed or adapted on the opposite side of the window, so as to serve as a right or left hand hinge. To accomplish this I also form a second groove, E, on the plate A, corresponding to the groove on the opposite side.

flange G and inclined surface D D, in combination with the plate A, having the bracket or stud H, all constructed to form a double lock, in such a manner that the blind cannot be accidentally lifted from its hinge, substantially as described.

HARVEY LULL. Witnesses:

BOYD ELIOT, E. N. ELIOT. 

